steve_may1 Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 <p>I am quite interested in the 100-400mm for my 5D Mk 11, as such I have rooted around for any information I can find. There seems to be a lot of professional wildlife photographers who use this lens (as well as their 500mm f4's) - whether this is because it is the only 'L' series lens available covering that range, maybe. However, one professional I spoke to who uses this lens never uses it 400mm because of the softness issue, he pulls it back in to 390mm ish and it sharpens up apparently. I can't knock what the guy says as he has clearly thought about it and earns his living from it. Food for thought perhaps.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g dan mitchell Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 <blockquote> <p><em>... by how much percent of sharpness 400 prime will win over the zoom at the 400mm end?</em></p> </blockquote> <p>I cannot give you a precise percentage, but there are some things I can say with confidence.</p> <p>There will be very little difference, indeed.</p> <p>You are very unlikely to notice it at all unless you shoot very carefully from a tripod and make large prints, and even then you would not likely notice it or be concerned about it in most cases. The other factors that typically affect sharpness with lenses like these (camera motion, subject motion, accurate focus, etc.) will swamp the relatively small differences in resolution.</p> <p>"Sharpness" is only one of many factors that go into selecting the right lens for your purposes. Many people obsess about "sharpness" as if it were the only significant factor and as if rather small differences will be significant. Obsessing over sharpness when selecting a lens is like obsessing over the shape of the door handles when you buy a new car.</p> <p>Dan</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isaac sibson Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 <p><em>Obsessing over sharpness when selecting a lens is like obsessing over the shape of the door handles when you buy a new car.</em></p> <p>That the door handles on my car are not sharp is something I'm very glad of each time I get in...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g dan mitchell Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 <blockquote> <p><em>That the door handles on my car are not sharp is something I'm very glad of each time I get in...</em></p> </blockquote> <p>Hah!</p> <p>Maybe I should also write: "Obsessing over the shape of your lens is like obsessing over the sharpness of your door handles when you buy a new car."</p> <p>No, I don't think I will write that though...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryan_king1 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 <p>It depends on your subject and shooting style. I have owned both lenses. My preference was the 100-400L. The 400 is a little sharper and faster focusing, but I think the benefits of the zoom (flexibility, IS, closer focus) make it the better choice. I do not like having to frequently add extension tubes for close focus. IS is a huge advantage if you handhold lenses. So basically, if you need the IS, want zoom flexibility and photograph close subjects get the zoom. If you photograph subjects that are typically farther away, need the faster autofocus, and are willing to use a monopod or tripod then get the 400. The 70-200 f/4 IS and 400 combo works well if you have two cameras and carry them both at the same time, but you may miss some shots switching between the two lenses that you would have nailed with the 100-400. Plus the 100-400 alone is lighter then the other two lenses when traveling. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linh dinh Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 <p>Canon 400mm L 5.6: For optical performance it does not get better than this. <br> Canon 100-400 L: This is a nice lens, but push-pull zoom, vignetting wide open, soft, <br /> just ok Bokeh and dust Pump. <br /> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutterbug78 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 <p>I have had my Canon 100mm to 400mm IS Zoom Lens 7 years. It worked great with my Film camera but not with my Digital Cameras, it is hit and miss with sharpness...mostly miss with great distances & better with close subjects. I have used the Canon 50 D for the last year. does anyone have this similar issue. There is visible dust in the glass but it costs too much to get it cleaned so I was told at our local Camera shop.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birger hoglund Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 <p>What happened if you put a converter to canon 5 D II to this one 100-400<br> I am about to buy some is it a bad idea</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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